Remembering our Loved Ones Part 2: Rebecca Helen Mills 1973-1983

 It's May!  It feels right to devote this month to our lost loved ones.  As stories have come in, I have been so blessed to read the thoughts of family members about those who have passed during my lifetime as well as those who died before I was born. And it makes last week's story about Aunt Kathy  a perfect beginning.

This week I want to share two stories about Becky.  The first is mine and occurred during her illness and the second is from Pam and goes through the last days and her burial.  We both had experiences that have changed our lives and given us a for sure knowledge God is real and that there is life after death and we will see her again.

Sometimes His  Answer Is “No.”

 

By Valerie Mills Hunt

Summer 1983

After we were told that Becky’s brain-stem tumor was inoperable and her condition was terminal, my parents arranged for her to have a priesthood blessing. (Uncle Len had given her a blessing earlier on when the brain-stem tumor was first discovered.) This time my mom's brother, Bob and my cousin Mike were coming to give Becky a blessing. I was fifteen years old at the time. 

 

My mom was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She had been a member 6 years when I was born and had taken us kids to church for as long as I can remember.  She had grown up with her parents dropping her off at the Baptist church and then going elsewhere so it was important to her for us to go together.  I remember my dad going to church for our Primary program each year, but especially during the time that Becky was ill.  We were all hoping for a miracle.

 

I had faith that miracles could happen with the power of the priesthood and that morning I fasted and prayed repeatedly that Becky could be healed, truly believing that it was possible.

 

As Becky was being blessed, the rest of the family gathered around in the living room. I was standing near the hall. I suddenly felt something I had never experienced before and that was hard to describe using words. I felt enveloped in the love of my Savior – a feeling so immense that I felt I could reach out and touch it.  I somehow knew He was the source of this feeling that made me feel so divinely loved. At the same time, I also was given to know that the answer to my prayer that Becky be healed was, "No. It was not to be.”  The answer was shared in a way that was so infinitesimally caring and compassionate. Despite the answer itself breaking my heart, my heart was at the same time full of love.

 

I still don't understand why we had to lose Becky later that October 17th a week before her 10th birthday, but I do know that this was the first time in my life that I knew without a doubt for myself that God was real and aware of little, old me. If ever I doubt, I think back to that moment and know that God does hear and answer prayers. Sometimes they aren't what we hope and sometimes we don't understand, but I have faith that Becky was needed elsewhere.  I’m not perfect, but I continually strive to be worthy to be with her again someday.  I believe that Families can be Together Forever.

 

 

 

 

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Our Angel, Rebecca

By Pamela June Mills

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Saturday, October 15^th, 1983, Mom and Dad planned a family “birthday” party for Becky because we suspected she wasn’t going to make it to her birthday on October 24^th.  We were touched by those that stopped by from both sides of the family.  Family members felt moved to come. Some without even knowing that we were having a party. 

 

That night, Becky didn’t sleep.  Sunday, I climbed up in her hospital bed that we had in the living room and lay next to her and tried to sing to her to help her sleep. 

 

Valerie and I had school the next day, so we went to bed.  I wanted to get up, but was prompted not to.  I feel it was a miracle that I didn’t get up to witness Becky as she was taken by ambulance to the hospital because that is a memory of her I did not want to have.

 

The next day, after school, I stopped at a friend’s house on the way home. I called home, to ask permission to stay for a while and mom answered the phone.  I asked, “Oh, is dad with Becky.”  She said, “No.”  “Is Grandma with Becky?”  She said, “No.”  I said, “Is Becky by herself?”  She said, “Becky passed away.”  I dropped the phone and started screaming and scared my friend half to death.  That is how I found out about Becky passing.

 

The next days passed in a blur.  After the funeral, I remember Aunt Bonnie Hayward Snodgrass, arranged for the police to escort us to the cemetery.  Grandma Helen Snodgrass’ house was next door to the place where Becky was being buried.  As kids, we would go over to the cemetery and play in a big tree next door. 

 

During the graveside service, I remember sitting on the chairs reserved for the immediate family  I turned around and looked at that tree that we would play on and Becky was sitting on the branch in her smaller form (she had gained weight during her illness) in the white eyelet dress that Aunt Carole had made for her burial, swinging her legs back and forth with a big smile on her face.

This gave me immense comfort to help me get through the loss of my baby sister.

Additional pictures and the past stories I have shared can be found at https://millsfamilybook.blogspot.com.

And as always, if you think of a story to send, do.  Email me at bizebvalerie@gmail.com, text me and we can talk over the phone at 801-414-9048 or submit it using this form.

Sherilyn sent this picture in response to the email: